Dear Contributors,
There appears to be a deep irony at work here. Because we're discussing how a film influences children, rather than how books might influence them.
Although written literature has enjoyed a renaissance due to the Potter Series, JK is an exception, since it's harder to launch a book now, than it was before the advent of powerful visual media. Millions of dollars are often involved in producing a movie, the same resources are not granted new book launches.
"Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide To The Fanatical World Around Us" documents the existence of evil phenomena, it does not have any innate evil qualities. If I've understood the film correctly, Jared finds a way to destroy an evil tyrant without destroying the book. So, isn't that a positive message for our kids?
The issues need to be untangled:
"Book burning" (and the surpression of ideas) has been with us for many centuries. But in the real world, these destructive acts are political. The kids in Spiderwick Chronicles are not being "political", they just don't want Mulgarath murdering anyone. (Another positive message, I think we'd all agree). So, to be clear, the Grace Kids are not burning a book to surpress ideas or promote a particular ideology. It's a much more black and white matter of protecting themselves and their family.
The substantive issue is not really Arthur Spiderwick's troublesome book. How knowledge is applied (either for good or evil purposes) is what this wonderful film explores. This is a crucial issue facing us all.
For instance, one contributor mentioned Einstein. Einstein's work on atomic theory was used to construct atom bombs and resolve mankind's energy crisis. At the end of his life, Einstein stated: "I made one great mistake in my life... when I signed the letter to President Roosevelt recommending that atom bombs be made.." Doesn't he sound rather like Arthur Spiderwick?
Kind regards, NB
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